After a well-deserved break, NASCAR’s Cup Series teams are gearing up for an action-packed 28-week journey towards the championship, commencing at the formidable Talladega Superspeedway. This weekend’s lineup includes the regular 36 chartered teams, alongside three additional open entries. These entries feature the No. 44 NY Racing Team with driver J.J. Yeley, the No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet piloted by Anthony Alfredo, and the No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports entry, which is driven by team owner B.J. McLeod.
Interestingly, all three of these open teams previously attempted to qualify for this year’s Daytona 500 but were unsuccessful. Fortunately, this time around, there won’t be any cars going home empty-handed, given the number of entries. However, the same cannot be said for the NASCAR Xfinity Series, which has seen an influx of competitors. A total of 41 cars have signed up for the second-tier series, yet only 38 spots are available on the grid. Among the noteworthy entrants are Katherine Legge, representing Jordan Anderson Racing, and Jeffrey Earnhardt, driving for Sam Hunt Racing.
Jeffrey Earnhardt, a name that carries significant weight in the world of NASCAR, is the grandson of the legendary Dale Earnhardt Sr., the nephew of Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr., and the son of Kerry Earnhardt. This weekend marks not only Jeffrey’s first start of the 2025 season but also his 175th career start in the Xfinity Series. Historically, Jeffrey has had considerable success at Talladega, where he achieved his career-best finish, securing second place in 2022 while driving for Richard Childress Racing.
Katherine Legge, on the other hand, will be looking to turn her fortunes around after failing to qualify for the previous weekend’s race at Rockingham. Despite not making the grade at Rockingham, she participated in the event with a different team. Legge’s current team, Jordan Anderson Racing, is eager to ensure their car secures a spot in the race this weekend. Additionally, Jesse Iwuji is set to make his return to racing, partnering with DGM Racing for his first driving appearance in over two years.
The entry list for the Talladega Cup race is packed with talent. Notable drivers include Ross Chastain from Trackhouse Racing, Austin Cindric representing Team Penske, and Austin Dillon from Richard Childress Racing, among many others. The full roster includes a mix of seasoned veterans and emerging talent, promising an exciting race ahead.
The Talladega Cup entry list comprises:
1. Ross Chastain – Trackhouse Racing (Chevrolet)
2. Austin Cindric – Team Penske (Ford)
3. Austin Dillon – Richard Childress Racing (Chevrolet)
4. Noah Gragson – Front Row Motorsports (Ford)
5. Kyle Larson – Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)
6. Brad Keselowski – RFK Racing (Ford)
7. Justin Haley – Spire Motorsports (Chevrolet)
8. Kyle Busch – Richard Childress Racing (Chevrolet)
9. Chase Elliott – Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)
10. Ty Dillon – Kaulig Racing (Chevrolet)
11. Denny Hamlin – Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
12. Ryan Blaney – Team Penske (Ford)
16. AJ Allmendinger – Kaulig Racing (Chevrolet)
17. Chris Buescher – RFK Racing (Ford)
19. Chase Briscoe – Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
20. Christopher Bell – Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
21. Josh Berry – Wood Brothers Racing (Ford)
22. Joey Logano – Team Penske (Ford)
23. Bubba Wallace – 23XI Racing (Toyota)
24. William Byron – Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)
34. Todd Gilliland – Front Row Motorsports (Ford)
35. Riley Herbst – 23XI Racing (Toyota)
38. Zane Smith – Front Row Motorsports (Ford)
41. Cole Custer – Haas Factory Team (Ford)
42. John Hunter Nemechek – Legacy Motor Club (Toyota)
43. Erik Jones – Legacy Motor Club (Toyota)
44. JJ Yeley – NY Racing Team (Chevrolet)
45. Tyler Reddick – 23XI Racing (Toyota)
47. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – Hyak Motorsports (Chevrolet)
48. Alex Bowman – Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)
51. Cody Ware – Rick Ware Racing (Chevrolet)
54. Ty Gibbs – Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
60. Ryan Preece – RFK Racing (Ford)
62. Anthony Alfredo – Beard Motorsports (Chevrolet)
71. Michael McDowell – Spire Motorsports (Chevrolet)
77. Carson Hocevar – Spire Motorsports (Chevrolet)
78. BJ McLeod – Live Fast Motorsports (Chevrolet)
88. Shane van Gisbergen – Trackhouse Racing (Chevrolet)
99. Daniel Suarez – Trackhouse Racing (Chevrolet)
Similarly, the Xfinity Series entry list showcases an impressive collection of drivers vying for a coveted spot on the grid. The competition is fierce, with participants eager to secure their place and make an impact in the race.
The entry list for the Talladega Xfinity race includes:
– Sheldon Creed – Haas Factory Team (Ford)
– Carson Kvapil – JR Motorsports (Chevrolet)
– Jesse Love – Richard Childress Racing (Chevrolet)
– Parker Retzlaff – Alpha Prime Racing (Chevrolet)
– Kris Wright – Our Motorsports (Chevrolet)
– Patrick Emerling – SS-Green Light Racing (Chevrolet)
– Justin Allgaier – JR Motorsports (Chevrolet)
– Sammy Smith – JR Motorsports (Chevrolet)
– Daniel Dye – Kaulig Racing (Chevrolet)
– Josh Williams – Kaulig Racing (Chevrolet)
– Garrett Smithley – SS-Green Light Racing (Chevrolet)
– Christian Eckes – Kaulig Racing (Chevrolet)
– William Sawalich – Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
– Aric Almirola – Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
– Brandon Jones – Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
– Austin Hill – Richard Childress Racing (Chevrolet)
– Jeffrey Earnhardt – Sam Hunt Racing (Toyota)
– Harrison Burton – AM Racing (Ford)
– Dean Thompson – Sam Hunt Racing (Toyota)
– Jeb Burton – Jordan Anderson Racing (Chevrolet)
– Kyle Sieg – RSS Racing (Ford)
– Jake Garcia – RSS Racing (Ford)
– Blaine Perkins – Jordan Anderson Racing (Chevrolet)
– Katherine Legge – Jordan Anderson Racing (Chevrolet)
– Gren van Alst – Joey Gase Motorsports (Chevrolet)
– Ryan Sieg – RSS Racing (Ford)
– Sam Mayer – Haas Factory Team (Ford)
– Anthony Alfredo – Young’s Motorsports (Chevrolet)
– Brennan Poole – Alpha Prime Racing (Chevrolet)
– Caesar Bacarella – Alpha Prime Racing (Chevrolet)
– Nick Sanchez – Big Machine Racing (Chevrolet)
– Jeremy Clements – Jeremy Clements Racing (Chevrolet)
– Taylor Gray – Joe Gibbs Racing (Chevrolet)
– Mason Maggio – MBM Motorsports (Ford)
– Leland Honeyman Jr. – Cope Family Racing (Chevrolet)
– Ryan Ellis – DGM Racing x JIM (Chevrolet)
– Austin Green – Jordan Anderson Racing (Chevrolet)
– Connor Zilisch – JR Motorsports (Chevrolet)
– Jesse Iwuji – DGM Racing x JIM (Chevrolet)
– Matt DiBenedetto – Viking Motorsports (Chevrolet)
As the teams prepare for the upcoming races, the excitement in the NASCAR community continues to build. Each driver is poised to give their all on the track, making for a thrilling experience for fans and participants alike. Keep an eye on Talladega, as it promises to deliver a spectacular show filled with intense competition, strategic racing, and unforgettable moments.
